A debate team from Emporia State is headed to the National Debate Tournament.
The partnership of Arriq Singleton and Kalese Warfield (Emporia State SW) secured their bid to nationals with wins over talented opponents from Baylor University, the University of Texas-San Antonio, Missouri State University, the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and the University of Texas-Dallas during the District III National Qualifier at the University of Central Oklahoma.
The District III tournament saw 21 partnerships from 14 schools in the region battle for just 12 bids to the 72nd National Debate Tournament, which will be the weekend of March 22 at Wichita State University.
During the Qualifier on Feb. 22 through 25, Singleton also placed as the 12th best individual speaker.
Just 78 partnerships from across the country are eligible to compete at the NDT each year. This represents ESU’s first qualification since the 2012-13 season, when another accomplished Emporia State SW partnership made history by winning the NDT championship, thereby “uniting the crowns.”